UniBond Premier League

14th March 2007

Attendance - 248

Team - A Reid, T Reid, Janes, Appleby, Clarke, Drinkall, Brumwell(McTiernan 88), Webster, Raw, Brunskill, Ormerod. Subs not used: Thomas, Claisse.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Fleetwood Town became the first club to force a 0-0 draw at the Turnbull Ground since Spennymoor in February 2005 on a frustrating Wednesday night in the league for Whitby. The Seasiders are now down to eighth and trail the play-off places by four points with a game in hand on Marine in fifth. Manager Lee Nogan made one change from the side that tumbled out of the League Cup in a nine-goal thriller at Matlock on Saturday. The former Reading striker dropped himself from the squad, bringing in midfielder Byron Webster from York City on debut. The home side, playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation, started brightly in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. After Tommy Raw was upended, 25-goal top scorer Danny Brunskill hammered a powerful free-kick from a tough angle straight at keeper Danny Hurst and moments later, Phil Brumwell fired wide from 20 yards. At the other end, the lively Ryan Moore showed fine control to bring down a long ball and fire a half volley into the side netting. On 43 minutes, Moore chipped Whitby keeper Arran Reid with the ball dropping just past the far post, and the lively youngster drove just wide on the turn in first half injury time. The second half saw Blues’ left-back Alex Janes unleash a superb 30 yard half volley from nowhere that Hurst just about tipped over the crossbar. The impressive Webster came close curling wide twice from the edge of the Fleetwood area. Nogan introduced Dave McTiernan as late as the 88th minute, with the young winger setting up Brunskill to fire a trademark 12 yard drive goalwards, only for a defender to deflect the ball inches wide. The away side could’ve stole it in injury time, first a breakdown in communication at the back forced Appleby to nod the ball off his own goal line, but Reid made up for the error by producing an amazing point blank reflex save to deny Denney what looked a certain winner.